Slightly Off topic: Check out Mario Kart 8

[Howard_Casto]

I'm posting it here because any time I try to post something pro-Nintendo in the console forums half the idgits on the forums get their underwear all twisted.


Personal and Medical issues have plagued me recently, so I haven't been around the last couple of weeks.  (Turns out my "ear infection" is most likely TMJ for anyone following along.)

The other reason I've been silent is MKart 8.  It's really fantastic. They've fixed several of the balance issues in past iterations and added a lot of new ways to get speed boosts as well as unlockable characters and kart parts that make you actually want to play after you've beaten all the cups.  Online multiplayer is painless, for the first time in Nintendo's history... choose a mode, choose a region and off you go. 

The racing feels like a combination of F-zero, Sega All Stars Racing, and previous Mario Karts.  In terms of vs racing, it might be the best racer I've ever played, including the legendary Mario Kart 64.   The levels are incredibly detailed, maybe the most detail of any tracks in any racing game ever.  Sure the stuff isn't photo-realistic, but there's just so much going on.  In most games what do you usually see?  Maybe a static landscape and some grass and trees?  Because of f-zero like hover tracks, their is detail in 360 degrees... often moving, 3d detail that you can interact with. 

Anyway if you've got a Wii U, check it out.  If you don't find someone who does and still check it out.  Well worth the effort. 

It's Nice to see Nintendo finally hit a homer with a Wii U title.   

[Malenko]

Does it still reward the last place guy and punish the first place guy? ie , first place gets a fake ? block, and last place gets a lightning bolt.

[pbj]

I'd like to check this one out, the last one I enjoyed in the series was on DS.  Wii version brought nothing new.  Hated the Gamecube iteration.  Snaking, IMO, has absolutely killed this franchise.

That being said....

Nintendo's running a fairly aggressive promotion on this one with the free game download..... 2 of the 3 games everyone has already, so that means lots of people are downloading Pikmin 3.

Go preorder something random at Target for $1, get $15 off Mario Kart WiiU, and a 'free' Pikmin 3 download.  Not too shabby for $46 plus tax....  Nintendo will be crazy desperate at Christmas time, though, so I'll wait it out.

 

[Howard_Casto]

Does it still reward the last place guy and punish the first place guy? ie , first place gets a fake ? block, and last place gets a lightning bolt.

Yes and no.  If you think that you aren't going to get shelled a few times if you are in first then you are kidding yourself, BUT, recovery time is a lot shorter, blue shells are very rare and you won't have those situations where you are hit by 5 red shells in a row or everyone in last place gets a lightening bolt, ect....  Also if you fall off or get knocked of the track you are immediately put back on, it isn't like previous iterations where there is a big delay. 

Let's put it this way.... I just went through the 50cc mode.  I won all the grand prix cups with all 1st places except the final one (still got 1st overall, but placed 2nd in one or two races). 

Multiplayer is significantly more difficult, but you are racing real people, so duh.  One thing that is cool about multiplayer is the lucky 7 has been replaced by the lucky 8.  If you are around last place you'll be more likely to get the lucky 8 which is all 8 items rotating around you in a circle (except the sound box and blue shell).  Single player mode doesn't give you this though.   

pbj:  You obviously didn't watch the e3 coverage.  Nintendo owned the competition this year.  Most stuff is coming out in 2015, but people finally seem to be excited about the wii U now that they announced a HD Zelda (yawn).  I doubt they are going to be as desperate as you think.  There's no snaking btw.... it's gone.... wasn't in the Wii or 3ds versions either just for the record. 

Personally I'm all excited about a create your own Super Mario Bros.  game and the 20 dollar, 4 player game cube 2 usb adaptor, but hey, I'm weird that way. 

[pbj]

E3 looked good, no doubt.  But first party games are on clearance and Nintendo is dumping brand new systems as returbs for $200.  Let's not kid ourselves.

[Brian74]

We got it this weekend, son loves it 

[wp34]

Personal and Medical issues have plagued me recently, so I haven't been around the last couple of weeks.  (Turns out my "ear infection" is most likely TMJ for anyone following along.)

Sorry to hear that.  I've had TMJ for about 15 years.  Sleeping with a mouthpiece really helps.

I'm looking forward to getting Mario Kart 8 but will likely wait until this winter to get it when we have more time to play.

I hope the new Zelda is really as good as it looks.  The preview they just released is freaking awesome.

[Paul Olson]

I miss Mario Kart on the Wii. My wireless card in the Wii died a couple of years ago, so  I haven't used it since.

[isamu]

I agree Mario Kart 8 looks very fun. Was watching some streams on Twitch yesterday.

I will DEFINITELY play it..............

























............when it's emulated in Dolphin 

[pbj]

Everything I've read online says snaking is present in Mario Kart 8, so it's a pass for me.

It was front and center in 3DS and the Wii version despite the LOL claim otherwise.

[Malenko]

Everything I've read online says snaking is present in Mario Kart 8, so it's a pass for me.

It was front and center in 3DS and the Wii version despite the LOL claim otherwise.

snaking = sandbagging? Basically dont be in first until right before the end of the race?

[DarakuTenshi]

I've had TMJ since I was in the 5th or 6th grade... not fun. Anyway...
I picked up MK8 a few days back and am really enjoying it. It's not the best MK game out there, but I do like the way the game looks and feels in this one. I will say that I'm a bit disappointed in the Rainbow Road. As for sandbagging I'd say that it's rather a gamble in this game. The chances of getting really good items are rather low. I hate some of the items they added (i.e. coin, boomerang) and usually when I'm towards last place I'm still getting garbage items like coins or single mushrooms.

[pbj]

Apparently google quit working.  Snaking in Mario Kart is drifting back and forth very quickly for non-stop speed boosts.  It absolutely killed online play for those titles.  Mario Kart DS was fun online for about 2-3 weeks until everyone figured out how to do it.   

[Malenko]

Apparently google quit working.  Snaking in Mario Kart is drifting back and forth very quickly for non-stop speed boosts.  It absolutely killed online play for those titles.  Mario Kart DS was fun online for about 2-3 weeks until everyone figured out how to do it.   

I never know when you are making ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- up.

[pbj]

Well, at $45 shipped I decided to bite and quit being a hater. 

I guess I'll redeem the download code for Pikmin 3 as Windwaker and Wii Party U are terrible games and I already have the Mario one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/380934372447

You can also buy it from NewEgg directly using their iphone app and Google Wallet for $15 off the $60 price.

 

[Boomslang]

yeah I picked it up this week. Seems pretty fun. Im not the biggest Nintendo Fan and only really played Mario kart back on N64 but im enjoying it

[Howard_Casto]

I'm amazed at how much I'm using the multiplayer.  I'm not a online kind of guy when it comes to gaming, but the match selection is so painless you are in a game and racing within a minute.  Plus a race with up to 15 all human controlled racers is pretty fun.